The Country Maiden: Fields and Leisure
Chapter 405: Hukou

Chapter 405: Chapter 405: Hukou

Old Granny Zhang gently nudged Wang Yongzhu, "You’re such a naive girl, it’s only because of your face that we got offered such a generous amount of silver. Who would give so much money to the likes of two old timers like us? Just take it if it’s given to you."

Wang Yongzhu refused to accept it, "But there’s the expense of the banquet at home, buying meat, fish, and even fireworks, doesn’t all of that cost money? This money has been spent by the Public Institution, so the money we collect naturally has to be handed over to the Public Institution."

Old Granny Zhang insisted, stuffing the silver into Wang Yongzhu’s hand, "Your mother has her reasons for doing this. Think about it, such a large share of money, when those city folks have some banquet or other event, how could our family of country bumpkins attend?"

"What if there comes a time when money is scarce? How will we return the shares to others? Are we supposed to come asking you for it? When Eldest Brother got engaged and married, we didn’t take a single penny from them. Now that my girl is getting engaged, if anyone dares to take your money, watch me tear his mouth open!"

Wang Laozhu silently swallowed the words in his throat and acted as if he were a wallflower.

Seeing that there was no way to refuse and considering Old Granny Zhang’s intention, which seemed to be about distancing herself and Song Chongjin from the household’s finances to avoid the family taking advantage, Wang Yongzhu reluctantly accepted, insisting on giving back the spare change from the four ounces of silver to Old Granny Zhang.

Only then did Wang Laozhu tap his tobacco pipe and say, "Daughter, I have something to ask you?"

Wang Yongzhu turned around promptly, "Dad, what is it?"

Wang Laozhu hesitated a bit, "Tomorrow, I’m going to Lizheng’s house to separately register Song Chongjin’s household registration. Should he be registered under his own household, or should it be transferred to our family?"

If it were in the past, he would have definitely asked for the registration to be transferred to his own family, without overthinking it.

But ever since Song Chunhua exploded with the news that Song Chongjin was not his biological son, the matter had become somewhat complicated.

What if the birth parents were still alive and saw that their son had been married off as a son-in-law? Would they bear a grudge against the Wang Family?

So, when he said he was asking Wang Yongzhu, he was also seeking Song Chongjin’s opinion.

"Let’s have him registered separately," Wang Yongzhu said after pondering for a while.

Immediately, Old Granny Zhang gave her a slap on the back, "Girl, are you out of your mind?"

If they were to register a separate household, wouldn’t that mean Song Chongjin had not married into their family? After all the effort she and her daughter made, what if Song Chongjin simply clapped his hands and walked away? What would her daughter do then?

"Mom, listen to me..." Wang Yongzhu was about to use her persuasive skills.

Then a voice from behind interrupted, "Dad, Mom, please transfer my household registration under the Wang Family’s name, as was agreed upon earlier."

Wang Yongzhu sighed; this man really was something. She had been scheming for his welfare, yet he didn’t seem like someone long confined to a country village.

If he carried the title of son-in-law in the future, it would surely affect his prospects.

But Song Chongjin was determined to be in the same household registration as Wang Yongzhu.

Having no choice, she agreed.

That evening, everyone’s dinner was tasteless and unenjoyable.

The next day, bright and early, Wang Laozhu took Song Chongjin and Wang Yongzhu to Lizheng’s house.

Song Chongjin was carrying a jar of wine left over from yesterday’s banquet and a skinned rabbit that had been salted, trailing behind Wang Laozhu with a leisurely gait.

Along the way, those who had heard the latest gossip about the Song Family came out one after another to watch.

Wang Laozhu felt somewhat uncomfortable and walked quickly ahead with his head down.

Song Chongjin and Wang Yongzhu, on the other hand, were quite composed. Especially Wang Yongzhu, who regretted that there were no cellphones, no internet, no social circle here.

Otherwise, she’d capture this scene of being spectated and, with a few lines of text, she could blow up her circle of friends in minutes.

Perhaps because the Song Family and Song Chunhua were so unpopular, today, everyone looked at Song Chongjin a bit more kindly.

More people greeted them, "Yongzhu, Chongjin, heading to the Lizheng’s house so early?"

Wang Yongzhu nodded.

"Then you should go and come back quickly. Get the matter resolved early, so that shameless bunch from the Song Family doesn’t start clinging to you again," said the woman who nearly got choked to death by Song Chunhua yesterday.

After a narrow escape from death, she almost wet her pants in fright.

It was Wang Yongzhu who saved her, so naturally, she was extremely grateful.

And as for Song Chunhua, she hated her to the core.

As long as she was around, that ruthless wretch Song Chunhua wouldn’t have a single good day.

They made their way through the crowd and arrived at the Lizheng’s house.

Lizheng’s Wife, with her sharp eyes, saw what Song Chongjin was carrying and was delighted—now here was someone who knew what was proper.

There were many people, especially those from the Li Family clan, who acted as if her husband, the Lizheng, existed solely to serve them. A trivial matter today, a nonsensical issue tomorrow, they would all come to him.

It meant her husband was hardly ever home and hardly ever pleased.

Suddenly seeing such a well-mannered person, Lizheng’s Wife warmly welcomed the two inside.

Wang Laozhu had arrived earlier, empty-handed, which displeased Lizheng’s Wife so much that she didn’t even serve him tea.

Now she slowly brought out three cups of tea and set them down, holding the tray as she lingered to listen, not willing to leave.

The affair was simple and clarified in just a few words.

She then took out the household registry and under Song Tiedan’s name and after Song Chunhua’s, she crossed out the name Song Chongjin and wrote it down under the Wang Family, below Wang Laozhu and Old Granny Zhang, next to Wang Yongzhu.

It looked simple, but it was all that Song Chongjin had yearned for all these years.

Seeing his name transferred out of the Song Family registry, Song Chongjin, despite feeling as tough-hearted as iron, couldn’t help but have a hint of mist in his eyes.

Everyone saw it and knew he was hurting inside, but they all pretended not to notice.

Wang Laozhu deliberately asked, "Our family is becoming crowded, almost outgrowing our home. Does the village have any extra land for building new houses?"

The Lizheng was taken aback, "You want to build a large house?"

Thinking it over, it did make sense; the Wang Family was growing, the children were getting older, and indeed, the old courtyard and houses were too cramped.

"What’s the big deal? There’s plenty of land in the village suitable for building houses, it’s just that the locations aren’t as good anymore, all rather remote. You should take a look around when you have the time, and let me know if you like any plots. Then we can proceed with the purchase and get everything signed and sealed," the Lizheng said.

Upon hearing this, Wang Laozhu was also satisfied. He planned to stroll around the village once he was not busy in the following days and then decide.

Seeing that another person had come to find the Lizheng, the Wang Family took the opportunity to take their leave.

On the way home, walking past Song Chunhua’s house, Song Chongjin walked straight past without so much as a sideways glance, disappointing those who had waited a long time hoping to see a spectacle.

Especially inside the Song Family Courtyard, since Song Chunhua had returned the day before, she had firmly shut the courtyard door, not opening it for anyone calling her.

Even after Song Tiedan and Old Mother Song from the Song Family heard the news and rushed over, angrily berating her throughout the afternoon at her doorstep, Song Chunhua neither defended herself nor retaliated, simply refusing to open the courtyard door.

As night fell, Song Tiedan had no choice; he was getting old, and since his daughter wouldn’t open the door, he certainly couldn’t climb over the wall, could he?

In the end, he could only return home dejectedly.